Clutch and clutch-actuating mechanism



March 13, 1928. 1,662,598

F. H. BlERMAN CLUTCH AND CLUTCH ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 15, 1927 1344i MNMQM Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES FRANK H. BIERMAN, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

CLUTCH AND CLUTCH-ACTUATING MECHANISM.

Application filed January 15, 1927. Serial No. 161,318.

My invention has for its object to provide an extremely simple and highly eiiicient clutch and clutch-actuating mechanism, and to this end it consists of the novel l devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the laccompanying drawings, which il` lustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a View principally in longitudinal central section showing one form of the invention embodied in a wheel and shaft;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail view, with l5 some parts sectioned on the line 2-2 of Fig is a detail view, with some parts sectioned on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 with some parts broken away; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3.

The improved clutch, as shown, comprises axially spaced clutch plates 5 and 6, a cooperating hub 7, and interposed friction 25 discs 8. Said clutch plate 5 is integrally formed with the inner end of a tubular shaft 9, axially aligned therewith and has on its outer face a hub l in which are mounted a plurality of attaching set screws 11. The 80 clutch late 6 is loosely mounted on the t-ubular s aft 9 for axial adjustment toward and from the clutch plate and the clutch hub 7 is journaled on said shaft between the clutch plates 5 and 6 with a roller bea-ring 12 interposed therebetween. The clutch discs 8 are loose and of the dry type.

Formed with the ends of the hub 7, at the perimeter thereof, are reversely extended annular flanges 13 which loosely surroundthe clutch plates 5 and 6, cover the joints therebetween, and hold the clutch discs 8 against radial shifting movement. Y

The tubular shaft 9 is telescoped onto the reduced end extension 14 of a shaft 15 until stopped by the shoulder therebetween, and secured for rotation therewith by the setscrews 11. By reference to Fig. 1 it will be noted that the reduced shaft extension 14.,

cates a pair of bell-crank levers fulcrumed on a diametrically extended pin 18 in the tubular shaft 9 and Work in a pair of diametrically opposite longitudinally extended slots 19 in said shaft. The long arms of the bell-crank levers 17 kextend substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft 9 and the short arms thereof extend radially outward of said shaft and are spaced from the outer face of the clutch member 6. Bearing screws 20 have 4threaded engagement with the short arms of the bell-crank levers 17, extend into recesses in the outer face of the clutch plate 6 and impinge against said plate. Lock nuts 21 are applied to the outer ends of the screws 2O for holding the same where set in the bell-crank levers 17 For operating the bell-crank levers 17 to axially move the vclutch plate 6 toward the clutch plate 5 for clamping said plates onto the clutch hub 7 with the friction discs 8 interposed therebetween, a plunger 22 mounted in the outer end portion of the tubular shaft 9 for compound axial and turning movements. rllhe diameter of the inner end portion of the plunger 22 is reduced to afford a cylindrical section 23 with which the bell-crank levers 17 engage when the plunger 22 is retracted andthe clutch neutral. Said plunger 22, outward ofk its section 23, is tapered to the body thereof to afford a camacting section 24 arranged to engage the bellcrank levers 17, spread the long arms thereof, and thereby cause said levers to axially move the clutch plate 6 toward the clutch plate 5. Obviously, this cam section 24:,

when the plunger 22 is projected, causes a variable pressure to be applied to the bellcrank levers 17, for a purpose that will hereinafter appear.

A disc-like head 25 is swivelled to the plunger-22 outward of the tubular shaft 9 and is mounted in a sleeve-like bearing guide 26 for compound turning and axial move- ,ments This bearing guide 26 has on its inner end a two-part collar 27 loosely swivelled in an annular channel 28 formed in the periphery of the tubular shaft 9. One meinber of the collar 27 is integrally formed with the bearing guide 26 and the other, or loose member thereof, which is visible from Fig. 1, is secured to the fixed member of said collar by bolts 29. Said head 25 is provided with a pair of diametrically extended cam studs 30 mounted in oblique cam slots 31 in the bearing guide 26.

To turn the head 25 in the bearing guide Q6 and thereby cause its cam studs 30, acting in the cani slots 3l, to impart an axial movement to the plunger there is. provided a depending hand lever tulirrumed on a lug 323. on the under side oi' the hearing guide .ti. A. link :il intermediately connects the lever to an elve 235i on one ot the trunnions itt). It depcmling handle Sti in the form olf a rod, attached to the hearing guide 2t?. As shown. the lower end oll this handle lo is anchored to a hearing 3T on the .saine machine or device, not shown, to which the clutch and, cliiteh-:u-tuating device applied. The purpose el thus anchoring the handle Citt in to prevent the bearing guide 2G from turning on the hollow shalt t). rPhe handle Sli, in some instances, however, may be lett. tree and he manually held while they lever 3:2 is heilig operated to project or retract the plunger 22, d'hen this handle titi is loose. the same together with the lever 32 will hang down under the action oi gravity, and thereby cause the hearing `guide 26 to remain stationary and notI turn with the hollow shatt l).

As previously stated, when the clutch neutral, the bellfcranlt levers l? engage the reduced section 225 ol' the plunger 22 and the cam studs 3U are at the longitudinal centers ot the cam slots l, as shown in Figs. l and 1.

The length and taper ot the plunger 22 may he varied to meet dillerent reipiirements. For example, il it is desired to have an extremely line adjustment ot' the clutch tor varying the speed therco't', the plunger 22 may he longer and have a longer taper lo cause the action upon the clutch plates to he more gradual. ln this case, however, the movementolt the plunger 22, head Q5 and cam studs 3l) would necessarily be greater to throw the clutch from neutral to operative position and, hence, in a neutral position. the cam .studs 3o ui'iuld be in the right-hand side oil? the cam slots ll in respect to Figs. l and t.

To set the clutch so that the shaft 'l5 and pulley l() will be positively locked together and travel at the .same Speed. the lever 32 is pres-stal toward the. handle 3G tio cause the cam .studs 3l) to move in the cam slots 3l. and thereby project tue plunger Q0 into a position in which the bell-crank levers li' ride over the cam .section and onto the body ot said plunger. Ttlhen the clutch ia thus set, there is no slippage between the shaft 'lo and the wheel t7, and the driven member being operated at its maximum speed.

By adjusting the plunger :22 so that its cam section :2l engages the bell-crank levers 1'?, the pressure exerted by said levers on the clutch plate 6 is Such that there will be a slippage in the clutch so that the. speed of the driven member is reduced. lly `aetting the plunger with its cam .section 2l in dit'- lerent axial adjustments on the hell--eranlt levers 1T, the driven member may he opi-rated at a variable `speed.

lVllat l claim is:

l. The combination with a revoluhle memher having a pair ol' axially .spaced clutch plates. one ot which is relatively ari-all)- adjustable and a wheel having a clutch hah journaled ou said member, oll clutch-actu ating mechanism Afor setting the clutch plates onto the clutch hub under a variable presi sure to permit variable slippage between said clutch platesl and clutch hub, :laid clutch actuating mechanism including a pair of hell-crank levers 'l'ulcrumed on said member Yfor action on said movable clutch plate, a cam-acting plunger mounted on said member l'or operating said levers, a hatulle-equipped member swivclled on said revoluble member and having an internal cylindrical section and a pair oi cam slots, a head .swivelled on said plunger, rotatably mounted in said cyl indrical section and having cam studs working in said cam slots, and a lever 'fulcrumed on said handle-eiptipped member and con neeted to said head for turning the same.

2. The combination with two revoluble members and a clutch for connecting the same, one ol" said n'leiubera having an axially extended support, of a pair ol bell-cranks pivoted to said extended support and operative on said clutch, a cam-acting member axially movable in said extended support and operative on said bell-cranks, a head swivellcd on .said extended support so that it will not rotate therewith, a lever pivoted to said head, and a connection between said lever and cam-acting member for setting the latter in dili'ercnt axial adjustments to thereby vary the 'lrictional driving action oi said clutch.

3. The combination with two revoluble members and a clutch for connecting the same, one of said members having an axially extended support, ol a pair ol bell-c'anks` pivoted to said extended support and operative on said clutch, a eam-acting r member axially movable in said extended Support and operative on said bell-cranks, a head swivelled on said extended support so that it will not rotate therewith, a lever pivoted to said head for movements in a plane ap proximately at right angles to the axis of said members, and a connection between said lever and cam-acting member including a cam device reacting against said head and operative to transform the pivotal movement ot' said lever into axial movement in said eanraeting member.

ln testimony whereof I aix mv signature.

FRANK H. Bientina. 

